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2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Mig 31? Wrong! If the Mig 31 is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Mig 31 then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Mig 31? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Mig 31 and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Mig 31 wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Mig 31 then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Mig 31 site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Mig 31, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Mig 31, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
For the fictional aircraft of the novel and movie Firefox (film), see Fictional military aircraft#Mikoyan MiG-31 (fictional).{{infobox Aircraft |name =MiG-31 "Foxhound"
|type =[Interceptor aircraft
|manufacturer =[Mikoyan
|image =Image:MiG-31 Foxhound.jpg
|designer =
|first flight =[16 September [1975 in aviation
|introduced =[1982 in aviation
|retired =
|status =
|primary user = [Russian Air Force
|more users =[Military of Kazakhstan
[Syrian Air Force
|produced =
|number built = 500
|unit cost =
|developed from = [Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
|variants with their own articles =
-->The
Mikoyan MiG-31 () (
NATO reporting name "
Foxhound") is a supersonic
interceptor aircraft developed to replace the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25. Designed by the
Mikoyan design bureau, the MiG-31 was the most advanced interceptor fielded by the
Soviet Union before its fall of the Soviet Union.
Design and development
The MiG-25 'Foxbat', despite Western panic about its tremendous speed, made substantial design sacrifices in capability for the sake of achieving high speed, altitude, and rate of climb. It lacked maneuverability at interception speeds, was difficult to fly at low altitudes, and its thirsty
turbojet engines resulted in a very short combat range at supersonic speeds. The MiG-25's speed gauge was redlined at Mach 2.8, and pilots were instructed not to top Mach 2.5 in order to preserve the engines. Achieving the MiG-25's maximum speed of
Mach number would result in the destruction of the engines.
The MiG-25's
radar was also powerful enough to burn through the
electronic countermeasures (ECM) of enemy aircraft. The radar's power system operated on vacuum tubes, which may seem odd to Western observers, but their use was very practical for the Soviets and served them well, including reduced susceptibility to damage from the electromagnetic pulses generated by nuclear explosions. Nonetheless, the Foxbat proved to be more useful in the reconnaissance role than as an interceptor, and by the mid-1970s a replacement was being developed.
Development of the MiG-25's replacement began with the
Ye-155MP () prototype which first flew on
16 September 1975 in aviation. Although it bore a superficial resemblance to a stretched MiG-25 (with a longer fuselage for the radar operator cockpit), it was in many respects a totally new design. Soviet manufacturing limitations forced the MiG-25 to use nickel steel for 80% of its structure. The Ye-155MP doubled the use of
titanium to 16% and tripled the aluminum content to 33% to reduce structural mass. More importantly, supersonic speed was now possible at low-level altitudes. Fuel capacity was also increased, and new, more efficient low-bypass ratio turbofan engines were fitted.
The most important development was the introduction of an advanced radar capable of both look-up and look-down engagement (locating targets above and below the aircraft), as well as multiple target tracking. This finally gave the Soviets an interceptor capable of engaging the most likely Western intruders at long range. It also reflected a policy shift from reliance on ground-controlled interception (GCI) to greater autonomy for flight crews.
Like its MiG-25 predecessor, the MiG-31 was surrounded by early speculation and misinformation concerning its design and capabilities. The West learned of the new interceptor from Lieutenant
Viktor Belenko, a pilot who defected to Japan in
1976 in aviation with his MiG-25P. Belenko described an upcoming "Super Foxbat" with two seats and a capability to intercept cruise missiles. According to his testimony, the new interceptor was to have air intakes similar to the
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, which the MiG-31 in reality does not have, at least not in production variants. While undergoing testing, a MiG-31 was spotted by a
reconnaissance satellite at the Zhukovsky flight test center near the town of
Ramenskoye. The images were interpreted as a fixed-wing interceptor version of a
swing-wing fighter
NATO reporting name the "Ram-K". The latter was eventually revealed to be the
Sukhoi Su-27, a wholly unrelated design.
Series production of the MiG-31 began in 1979 in aviation, with operational models entering
Soviet Anti-Air Defense (PVO) service in
1982 in aviation. It was first photographed by a
Norway pilot over the Barents Sea in 1985 in aviation.
The MiG-31 was sought after for a variety of long-range missions. Following the collapse of the USSR, however, the budget for spares and maintenance collapsed, leaving many squadrons unable to maintain their complex aircraft. By
1996 in aviation, only 20% of remaining aircraft were reportedly serviceable at any time; however, by early 2006, a
Economy_of_Russia#Recovery permitted the return to service of around 75% of the Russian Air Force's (VVS') MiG-31s.
About 500 MiG-31s were produced, approximately 370 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/av.htm of which remain in Russian service, with another 30 or so in Kazakhstan. Some upgrade programs have found their way in the MiG-31 fleet, like the MiG-31BM multirole version with upgraded avionics, new multimode radar,
HOTAS controls, Liquid crystal display color multi-function displays (MFDs), ability to carry the
Vympel R-77 missile and various Russian
Air-to-surface missile (AGMs) such as the
Kh-31 anti-radiation missile (ARM), a new and more powerful computer, and digital Data link. However, only very small number of Russian aircraft have been upgraded to the MiG-31BM standard, although others have been equipped with new computer and the ability to carry the R-77 long-range missile as well.
It is not yet clear when the Russian Air Force will phase out the MiG-31, but judging by its importance to the VVS and with no clear successor in line, it is likely that it will continue serving as late as 2010, depending on its upgrades and the growth of the Russian economy.
Description
Like the MiG-25, the Foxhound is a large twin-engine aircraft with side-mounted air intakes, a shoulder-mounted wing with an aspect ratio (wing) of 2.94, and twin vertical tailfins. Unlike the Foxbat, it has two seats, with the rear occupied by a dedicated
weapon systems officer.
Airframe and engines
The wings and airframe of the MiG-31 are stronger than those of the MiG-25, permitting supersonic flight at low altitudes. Its Aviadvigatel D30-F6
turbofans, rated at 34,000 pounds thrust, (also described as "bypass
turbojets" due to the low bypass ratio) allow a maximum speed of Mach number 1.23 at low altitude. High-altitude speed is temperature-redlined to Mach 2.83 — the thrust-to-drag ratio is sufficient for speeds in excess of Mach 3, but such speeds pose unacceptable hazards to engine and airframe life in routine use.
Given the MiG-31's role as Mach 2+ interceptor and the sustained afterburning this requires, its fuel consumption is higher when compared to other aircraft serving in different roles, such as the Su-27. As a result, the aircraft's
fuel fraction has been increased to more than 0.40 — 16,350 kg (36,050 lb) of high-density T-6 jet fuel. The outer wing pylons are also plumbed for drop tanks, allowing an extra 5,000 liters (1,320
gallons) of external fuel. Late-production aircraft have
aerial refueling probes.
Despite the stronger airframe, the Foxhound is limited to a maximum of 5
g-force at supersonic speeds. At combat weight, its wing loading is marginal and its thrust to weight ratio is favorable. However, it is not designed for close combat or rapid turning.
Electronics suite
The MiG-31 was the world's first operational fighter with a passive electronically scanned array
radar, the
Zaslon S-800. Its maximum range against fighter-sized targets is approximately 200 km (125 mi), and it can track up to 10 targets and simultaneously attack four of them with its Vympel R-33 missiles. It is claimed to have limited astern coverage (perhaps the reason for the
radome-like protuberance above and between the engines). The radar is matched with an infrared search and tracking (IRST) system in a retractable undernose fairing. Up to four MiG-31s, spaced up to 200 km (125 mi) apart to cover a wide swath of territory, can coordinate via
datalink. The radar is controlled by the back-seater, whose cockpit has only two small vision ports on the sides of the canopy.
The MiG-31M-, MiG-31D-, and MiG-31BS-standard aircraft have an upgraded
Zaslon-M passive electronically scanned phased array radar (PESA) with larger antenna and greater detection range (said to be 400 km (250 mi) against Airborne Warning and Control System-size targets) and the ability to attack multiple targets -air and ground- simultaneously. The back-seater's controls are replaced with modern MFDs. Its electronic countermeasures capabilities have also been upgraded, with new ECM pods on the wingtips.
Armament
The MiG-31's main armament is four AA-9 'Amos' air-to-air missiles carried under the belly. The R-33 is the Russian equivalent of the United States Navy AIM-54 Phoenix. It can be guided in
semi-active radar homing (SARH) mode, or launched in
inertial guidance mode with the option of mid-course updates from the launch aircraft and switching to SARH for terminal guidance. A more advanced version of the weapon, the
Vympel R-37, which is the replacement for the older R-33, features folding stabilizers to reduce its stored size.
Other weapons include the old
Bisnovat R-40, originally deployed on the MiG-25, and the
Molniya R-60 or
Vympel R-73 short-range IR missiles, carried on wing pylons. Currently the entire MiG-31 fleet is being refitted to carry the newer
Vympel R-77 on the wing pylons.
Unlike the MiG-25, the MiG-31 has an internal cannon, a six-barrel, 23 mm
GSh-6-23 with 260 rounds of ammunition, mounted above the starboard main landing gear bay. The GSh-6-23 has a claimed rate of fire of over 8,000 rounds per minute. The MiG-31M deletes the cannon in favor of an additional two fuselage recesses for R-33 or R-37 missiles.
Variants
A new version of the 'Foxhound' with upgraded
avionics, the
MiG-31B, was introduced in
1990 in aviation. Its development was the result of the Soviet discovery that Phazotron radar division engineer Adolf Tolkachev had sold information on advanced radars to the West. Tolkachev was executed, and a new version of the compromised radar was hastily developed. Many earlier MiG-31s were upgraded to the new standard, designated
MiG-31BS.
Development of a more comprehensive advanced version, the
MiG-31M, began in 1983 in aviation and first flew in
1986 in aviation, but the
collapse of the Soviet Union prevented it from entering full production. Since
1991 in aviation and especially since 2000, most of the existing aircraft have been upgraded to the MiG-31M standard, also adding some additional features like Global Positioning System (GPS) and GLONASS receivers. (In the VVS, aircraft designations are often repeated through the years; for example, the
Sukhoi Su-35 and Sukhoi Su-37 are both designated "Su-27M".). it was the heaviest interceptor in the world. With a maximum takeoff weight on 56 tonnes, the equivalent of 3.1 MiG-29s, 3.2 MiG-23ML and 6.3 MiG-21bis. It was even heavier than a commercial Tu-134, which has a maximum takeoff weight of 49 tonnes.
Several other variants have been developed, including a dedicated
anti-satellite weapon carrier, the
MiG-31D; a similar satellite-launching aircraft,
MiG-31A; a proposed multi-role version,
MiG-31F; and a downgraded export version,
MiG-31E; but most have not been built in any quantity, if at all.
Operators
- Soviet Air Force aircraft passed on to Russia and Kazakhstan in 1991.
Specifications (MiG-31)
{{aircraft specification|]|type of jet=afterburning
turbofans|number of jets=2|thrust main=93 kN|thrust alt=20,900 lbf|afterburning thrust main=152 kN|afterburning thrust alt=34,172 lbf
|max speed main=Mach 3.3, 3,255 km/h (2,112 mph) at 13,000 m (42,650 ft)|max speed alt=|max speed more=at altitude (top speed imposed by more more than 4000 km/h)|combat radius main=720 km at Mach 2.35|combat radius alt=450 mi|ferry range main=3,300 km|ferry range alt=2,050 mi|ceiling main=20,600 m|ceiling alt=67,600 ft|climb rate main=208 m/s|climb rate alt=41,000 ft/min|loading main=666 kg/m²|loading alt=136 lb/ft²|thrust/weight=0.85|more performance=
Maximum g-load: 5 g data seem to be of Mig-25E not Mig-25 original type|armament=
- 1x GSh-6-23 23 mm cannon with 260 rounds.
- Fuselage recesses for four Vympel R-33 or (for MiG-31M/BM only) six Vympel R-37 long-range air-to-air missiles.
- Four underwing pylons for a combination of:
- two Bisnovat R-40 medium-range missiles, and
- four Molniya R-60 or Vympel R-73 short-range IR missiles.
- four Vympel R-77 long-range missiles.
- Some aircraft are equipped to launch the Kh-31 and Kh-58 (AS-11 'Kilter') anti-radiation missiles in the SEAD role.
-->
References
- MiG-31E description at manufacturer's site
- MiG-31 Foxhound
- MiG-31 @ www.aviation.ru
External links
- MiG-31 Foxhound at Global Security
- MIG-31 Foxhound Interceptor at Russian Military Analysis
- MIG-31 Foxhound at RGlobal Aircraft
- Foxbat and Foxhound - Australian Aviation
Related content
{{aircontent||related=Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
|similar aircraft=F-14 Tomcat - F-15 Eagle
] -
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 -
Mikoyan MiG-29 -
MiG-31 -Mikoyan MiG-33 -Mikoyan MiG-35
|lists=List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS - List of fighter aircraft-->
For the fictional aircraft of the novel and movie Firefox (film), see Fictional military aircraft#Mikoyan MiG-31 (fictional).{{infobox Aircraft |name =MiG-31 "Foxhound"
|type =[Interceptor aircraft
|manufacturer =[Mikoyan
|image =Image:MiG-31 Foxhound.jpg
|designer =
|first flight =[16 September [1975 in aviation
|introduced =[1982 in aviation
|retired =
|status =
|primary user = [Russian Air Force
|more users =[Military of Kazakhstan
[Syrian Air Force
|produced =
|number built = 500
|unit cost =
|developed from = [Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
|variants with their own articles =
-->The
Mikoyan MiG-31 () (NATO reporting name "
Foxhound") is a supersonic interceptor aircraft developed to replace the
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25. Designed by the
Mikoyan design bureau, the MiG-31 was the most advanced interceptor fielded by the Soviet Union before its
fall of the Soviet Union.
Design and development
The MiG-25 'Foxbat', despite Western panic about its tremendous speed, made substantial design sacrifices in capability for the sake of achieving high speed, altitude, and rate of climb. It lacked maneuverability at interception speeds, was difficult to fly at low altitudes, and its thirsty
turbojet engines resulted in a very short combat range at supersonic speeds. The MiG-25's speed gauge was redlined at Mach 2.8, and pilots were instructed not to top Mach 2.5 in order to preserve the engines. Achieving the MiG-25's maximum speed of Mach number would result in the destruction of the engines.
The MiG-25's radar was also powerful enough to burn through the
electronic countermeasures (ECM) of enemy aircraft. The radar's power system operated on vacuum tubes, which may seem odd to Western observers, but their use was very practical for the Soviets and served them well, including reduced susceptibility to damage from the electromagnetic pulses generated by nuclear explosions. Nonetheless, the Foxbat proved to be more useful in the reconnaissance role than as an interceptor, and by the mid-1970s a replacement was being developed.
Development of the MiG-25's replacement began with the
Ye-155MP ()
prototype which first flew on
16 September 1975 in aviation. Although it bore a superficial resemblance to a stretched MiG-25 (with a longer fuselage for the radar operator cockpit), it was in many respects a totally new design. Soviet manufacturing limitations forced the MiG-25 to use nickel steel for 80% of its structure. The Ye-155MP doubled the use of titanium to 16% and tripled the
aluminum content to 33% to reduce structural mass. More importantly, supersonic speed was now possible at low-level altitudes. Fuel capacity was also increased, and new, more efficient low-
bypass ratio turbofan engines were fitted.
The most important development was the introduction of an advanced radar capable of both look-up and look-down engagement (locating targets above and below the aircraft), as well as multiple target tracking. This finally gave the Soviets an interceptor capable of engaging the most likely Western intruders at long range. It also reflected a policy shift from reliance on ground-controlled interception (GCI) to greater autonomy for flight crews.
Like its MiG-25 predecessor, the MiG-31 was surrounded by early speculation and misinformation concerning its design and capabilities. The West learned of the new interceptor from Lieutenant
Viktor Belenko, a pilot who defected to Japan in
1976 in aviation with his MiG-25P. Belenko described an upcoming "Super Foxbat" with two seats and a capability to intercept cruise missiles. According to his testimony, the new interceptor was to have air intakes similar to the
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, which the MiG-31 in reality does not have, at least not in production variants. While undergoing testing, a MiG-31 was spotted by a reconnaissance satellite at the Zhukovsky flight test center near the town of
Ramenskoye. The images were interpreted as a fixed-wing interceptor version of a
swing-wing fighter
NATO reporting name the "Ram-K". The latter was eventually revealed to be the
Sukhoi Su-27, a wholly unrelated design.
Series production of the MiG-31 began in 1979 in aviation, with operational models entering Soviet Anti-Air Defense (PVO) service in 1982 in aviation. It was first photographed by a Norway pilot over the Barents Sea in
1985 in aviation.
The MiG-31 was sought after for a variety of long-range missions. Following the collapse of the USSR, however, the budget for spares and maintenance collapsed, leaving many squadrons unable to maintain their complex aircraft. By
1996 in aviation, only 20% of remaining aircraft were reportedly serviceable at any time; however, by early 2006, a
Economy_of_Russia#Recovery permitted the return to service of around 75% of the
Russian Air Force's (VVS') MiG-31s.
About 500 MiG-31s were produced, approximately 370 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/av.htm of which remain in Russian service, with another 30 or so in Kazakhstan. Some upgrade programs have found their way in the MiG-31 fleet, like the MiG-31BM multirole version with upgraded avionics, new multimode radar,
HOTAS controls,
Liquid crystal display color multi-function displays (MFDs), ability to carry the
Vympel R-77 missile and various Russian
Air-to-surface missile (AGMs) such as the
Kh-31 anti-radiation missile (ARM), a new and more powerful computer, and digital
Data link. However, only very small number of Russian aircraft have been upgraded to the MiG-31BM standard, although others have been equipped with new computer and the ability to carry the R-77 long-range missile as well.
It is not yet clear when the Russian Air Force will phase out the MiG-31, but judging by its importance to the VVS and with no clear successor in line, it is likely that it will continue serving as late as 2010, depending on its upgrades and the growth of the Russian economy.
Description
Like the MiG-25, the Foxhound is a large twin-engine aircraft with side-mounted air intakes, a shoulder-mounted wing with an aspect ratio (wing) of 2.94, and twin vertical tailfins. Unlike the Foxbat, it has two seats, with the rear occupied by a dedicated weapon systems officer.
Airframe and engines
The wings and airframe of the MiG-31 are stronger than those of the MiG-25, permitting supersonic flight at low altitudes. Its
Aviadvigatel D30-F6 turbofans, rated at 34,000 pounds thrust, (also described as "bypass turbojets" due to the low
bypass ratio) allow a maximum speed of Mach number 1.23 at low altitude. High-altitude speed is temperature-redlined to Mach 2.83 — the thrust-to-drag ratio is sufficient for speeds in excess of Mach 3, but such speeds pose unacceptable hazards to engine and airframe life in routine use.
Given the MiG-31's role as Mach 2+ interceptor and the sustained afterburning this requires, its fuel consumption is higher when compared to other aircraft serving in different roles, such as the Su-27. As a result, the aircraft's
fuel fraction has been increased to more than 0.40 — 16,350 kg (36,050 lb) of high-density T-6 jet fuel. The outer wing pylons are also plumbed for drop tanks, allowing an extra 5,000 liters (1,320
gallons) of external fuel. Late-production aircraft have
aerial refueling probes.
Despite the stronger airframe, the Foxhound is limited to a maximum of 5
g-force at supersonic speeds. At combat weight, its wing loading is marginal and its thrust to weight ratio is favorable. However, it is not designed for close combat or rapid turning.
Electronics suite
The MiG-31 was the world's first operational fighter with a passive electronically scanned array radar, the
Zaslon S-800. Its maximum range against fighter-sized targets is approximately 200 km (125 mi), and it can track up to 10 targets and simultaneously attack four of them with its
Vympel R-33 missiles. It is claimed to have limited astern coverage (perhaps the reason for the
radome-like protuberance above and between the engines). The radar is matched with an
infrared search and tracking (IRST) system in a retractable undernose fairing. Up to four MiG-31s, spaced up to 200 km (125 mi) apart to cover a wide swath of territory, can coordinate via
datalink. The radar is controlled by the back-seater, whose cockpit has only two small vision ports on the sides of the canopy.
The MiG-31M-, MiG-31D-, and MiG-31BS-standard aircraft have an upgraded
Zaslon-M passive electronically scanned phased array radar (PESA) with larger antenna and greater detection range (said to be 400 km (250 mi) against
Airborne Warning and Control System-size targets) and the ability to attack multiple targets -air and ground- simultaneously. The back-seater's controls are replaced with modern MFDs. Its
electronic countermeasures capabilities have also been upgraded, with new ECM pods on the wingtips.
Armament
The MiG-31's main armament is four AA-9 'Amos' air-to-air missiles carried under the belly. The
R-33 is the Russian equivalent of the
United States Navy AIM-54 Phoenix. It can be guided in semi-active radar homing (SARH) mode, or launched in
inertial guidance mode with the option of mid-course updates from the launch aircraft and switching to SARH for terminal guidance. A more advanced version of the weapon, the Vympel R-37, which is the replacement for the older
R-33, features folding stabilizers to reduce its stored size.
Other weapons include the old Bisnovat R-40, originally deployed on the MiG-25, and the Molniya R-60 or Vympel R-73 short-range IR missiles, carried on wing pylons. Currently the entire MiG-31 fleet is being refitted to carry the newer Vympel R-77 on the wing pylons.
Unlike the MiG-25, the MiG-31 has an internal cannon, a six-barrel, 23 mm GSh-6-23 with 260 rounds of ammunition, mounted above the starboard main landing gear bay. The GSh-6-23 has a claimed rate of fire of over 8,000 rounds per minute. The MiG-31M deletes the cannon in favor of an additional two fuselage recesses for R-33 or R-37 missiles.
Variants
A new version of the 'Foxhound' with upgraded avionics, the
MiG-31B, was introduced in
1990 in aviation. Its development was the result of the Soviet discovery that
Phazotron radar division engineer Adolf Tolkachev had sold information on advanced radars to the West. Tolkachev was executed, and a new version of the compromised radar was hastily developed. Many earlier MiG-31s were upgraded to the new standard, designated
MiG-31BS.
Development of a more comprehensive advanced version, the
MiG-31M, began in 1983 in aviation and first flew in 1986 in aviation, but the
collapse of the Soviet Union prevented it from entering full production. Since
1991 in aviation and especially since 2000, most of the existing aircraft have been upgraded to the MiG-31M standard, also adding some additional features like
Global Positioning System (GPS) and GLONASS receivers. (In the VVS, aircraft designations are often repeated through the years; for example, the Sukhoi Su-35 and Sukhoi Su-37 are both designated "Su-27M".). it was the heaviest interceptor in the world. With a maximum takeoff weight on 56 tonnes, the equivalent of 3.1 MiG-29s, 3.2 MiG-23ML and 6.3 MiG-21bis. It was even heavier than a commercial Tu-134, which has a maximum takeoff weight of 49 tonnes.
Several other variants have been developed, including a dedicated
anti-satellite weapon carrier, the
MiG-31D; a similar satellite-launching aircraft,
MiG-31A; a proposed multi-role version,
MiG-31F; and a downgraded export version,
MiG-31E; but most have not been built in any quantity, if at all.
Operators
- Military of Kazakhstan received 48 aircraft, yet are no longer believed to be fully operational.
- Soviet Air Force aircraft passed on to Russia and Kazakhstan in 1991.
Specifications (MiG-31)
{{aircraft specification|]|type of jet=afterburning
turbofans|number of jets=2|thrust main=93 kN|thrust alt=20,900 lbf|afterburning thrust main=152 kN|afterburning thrust alt=34,172 lbf
|max speed main=Mach 3.3, 3,255 km/h (2,112 mph) at 13,000 m (42,650 ft)|max speed alt=|max speed more=at altitude (top speed imposed by more more than 4000 km/h)|combat radius main=720 km at Mach 2.35|combat radius alt=450 mi|ferry range main=3,300 km|ferry range alt=2,050 mi|ceiling main=20,600 m|ceiling alt=67,600 ft|climb rate main=208 m/s|climb rate alt=41,000 ft/min|loading main=666 kg/m²|loading alt=136 lb/ft²|thrust/weight=0.85|more performance=
Maximum g-load: 5 g data seem to be of Mig-25E not Mig-25 original type|armament=
- 1x GSh-6-23 23 mm cannon with 260 rounds.
- Fuselage recesses for four Vympel R-33 or (for MiG-31M/BM only) six Vympel R-37 long-range air-to-air missiles.
- Four underwing pylons for a combination of:
- two Bisnovat R-40 medium-range missiles, and
- four Molniya R-60 or Vympel R-73 short-range IR missiles.
- four Vympel R-77 long-range missiles.
- Some aircraft are equipped to launch the Kh-31 and Kh-58 (AS-11 'Kilter') anti-radiation missiles in the SEAD role.
-->
References
- MiG-31E description at manufacturer's site
- MiG-31 Foxhound
- MiG-31 @ www.aviation.ru
External links
- MiG-31 Foxhound at Global Security
- MIG-31 Foxhound Interceptor at Russian Military Analysis
- MIG-31 Foxhound at RGlobal Aircraft
- Foxbat and Foxhound - Australian Aviation
Related content
{{aircontent||related=Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
|similar aircraft=
F-14 Tomcat -
F-15 Eagle] -
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 -
Mikoyan MiG-29 -
MiG-31 -
Mikoyan MiG-33 -Mikoyan MiG-35
|lists=List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS - List of fighter aircraft-->